Published: Friday, February 21, 2014 at 10:34 AM.

Six “Outstanding Teen” contestants and 12 “Miss” contestants will vie for titles and scholarships in Shelby Middle School’s auditorium. Winners will compete in Miss North Carolina in June, with a chance to advance to the Miss America pageant.

The Miss America Organization is a non-profit agency that focuses on empowering women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum to express opinions, talents and intelligence.

It will be the first Miss America-affiliated Miss Shelby pageant since 1974, when Marla Alsobrook won the last crown at Shelby High’s Malcolm Brown Auditorium, pageant executive committee member Wendy Cobb told The Star.

“Since then, a couple different groups have held ‘Miss Shelby’ pageants, including the Jaycees and the Junior Charity League,” Cobb wrote in an email, “but these were not and are not recognized by Miss America or Miss North Carolina.”

Danyel Phelps has long been involved in pageants and worked with state pageant directors on the return of Miss Shelby, Cobb said.

Elizabeth Williams-Grayson will emcee Saturday’s event in Shelby. She is a former Miss North Carolina and winner of swimsuit and talent competitions while competing for Miss America.

Most tickets have been sold in advance of the event, Cobb said, but some tickets remain.

Whether you’re going or know someone involved, here are details on the event.

Miss Shelby/Miss Shelby Outstanding Teen Pageant

* Saturday: Doors open at 6 p.m., program begins at 7 p.m.

* Shelby Middle School auditorium at 1480 S. Dekalb St. in Shelby

* Advance tickets are $15 and available at Victorian Rose Studio at 108 W. Warren St. in Shelby

* A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $18.

* For more information, visit www.missshelby.org.

Who’s competing this year?

List includes names, talent competition plans and platform

Miss Shelby

Contestants must be 18-24 years old, live or attend school in Cleveland, Rutherford, Mecklenburg, Catawba or Burke counties and have never been married or had a child.

* Both the “Miss Shelby” and “Outstanding Teen” will compete for Miss North Carolina in June. There are two age divisions, Miss ages 18-24 and Oustanding Teen ages 14-17. The winners in Miss North Carolina competition will compete for Miss America in New Jersey.

* Scholarships include:

- $15,000 a year for up to four years for the winner, provided by Gardner-Webb University

- $10,000 a year for up to four years for first runner-up, provided by Gardner-Webb University

- Two-year scholarship of $4,764 value provided by Cleveland Community College

Six “Outstanding Teen” contestants and 12 “Miss” contestants will vie for titles and scholarships in Shelby Middle School’s auditorium. Winners will compete in Miss North Carolina in June, with a chance to advance to the Miss America pageant.

The Miss America Organization is a non-profit agency that focuses on empowering women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum to express opinions, talents and intelligence.

It will be the first Miss America-affiliated Miss Shelby pageant since 1974, when Marla Alsobrook won the last crown at Shelby High’s Malcolm Brown Auditorium, pageant executive committee member Wendy Cobb told The Star.

“Since then, a couple different groups have held ‘Miss Shelby’ pageants, including the Jaycees and the Junior Charity League,” Cobb wrote in an email, “but these were not and are not recognized by Miss America or Miss North Carolina.”

Danyel Phelps has long been involved in pageants and worked with state pageant directors on the return of Miss Shelby, Cobb said.

Elizabeth Williams-Grayson will emcee Saturday’s event in Shelby. She is a former Miss North Carolina and winner of swimsuit and talent competitions while competing for Miss America.

Most tickets have been sold in advance of the event, Cobb said, but some tickets remain.

Whether you’re going or know someone involved, here are details on the event.

Miss Shelby/Miss Shelby Outstanding Teen Pageant

* Saturday: Doors open at 6 p.m., program begins at 7 p.m.

* Shelby Middle School auditorium at 1480 S. Dekalb St. in Shelby

* Advance tickets are $15 and available at Victorian Rose Studio at 108 W. Warren St. in Shelby

* A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $18.

* For more information, visit www.missshelby.org.

Who’s competing this year?

List includes names, talent competition plans and platform

Miss Shelby

Contestants must be 18-24 years old, live or attend school in Cleveland, Rutherford, Mecklenburg, Catawba or Burke counties and have never been married or had a child.

* Both the “Miss Shelby” and “Outstanding Teen” will compete for Miss North Carolina in June. There are two age divisions, Miss ages 18-24 and Oustanding Teen ages 14-17. The winners in Miss North Carolina competition will compete for Miss America in New Jersey.

* Scholarships include:

- $15,000 a year for up to four years for the winner, provided by Gardner-Webb University

- $10,000 a year for up to four years for first runner-up, provided by Gardner-Webb University

- Two-year scholarship of $4,764 value provided by Cleveland Community College